Wednesday, 20 October 2021
17-10-2021 KAVALA, GREECE - YELLOW LEGGED GULL (JUVENILE) (Larus michahellis)
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/59202-Larus-michahellis
Tuesday, 19 October 2021
17-10-2021 KAVALA, GREECE - SPOTTED FLYCATCHER (Muscicapa striata)
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Spotted flycatchers are one of our summer migrants that spend the winter in Africa. They are one of the latest migrants to reach us, with a few trickling into the country from late April and most arriving from mid-May.
Despite arriving relatively late, spotted flycatchers manage to rear two broods of young before departing at the end of August. The success of the second clutch is increased by fewer eggs being laid, meaning less mouths to fill. They will nest in gardens but the nest is usually well hidden on ledges or behind climbing plants.
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Spotted flycatchers prefer large flying insects, including flies and butterflies. However, if the weather is cool and insects aren’t flying, they will take smaller invertebrates from leaves and branches. If poor weather persists, many nests fail as these smaller invertebrates tend to be eaten by the parents rather than fed to the young.
In order to reduce the chances of their invertebrate prey escaping, spotted flycatchers have a series of modified feathers, like bristles, down the sides of the bill. They have also adapted to catch stinging insects. They rub the sting end on their perch to remove it, making the prey safe to eat.
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Adult Spotted Flycatchers possess grey-brown upperparts and a somewhat pallid underbelly. Their crown and breast are streaked, which is the origin of their common name. They have short, black legs and a black bill shaped to suit their insectivorous diet. Juveniles can be distinguished by their browner plumage and the presence of spots on their upperparts.
These birds favor deciduous woodlands, parks, and gardens, particularly those with open spaces amidst trees.
17-10-2021 KAVALA, GREECE - EURASIAN BLACKCAP (MALE) (Sylvia atricapilla)
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The Eurasian blackcap, Sylvia atricapilla, is a common and widespread typical warbler known for its distinctive cap and melodious song. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism with males sporting a black cap and females a chestnut one. The upperparts are generally olive-grey, while the underparts are pale grey. This bird is small and agile, measuring around 13 cm in length with a wingspan of 7–8 cm.
Males can be identified by their black caps and light grey underparts, while females have a reddish-brown cap and a slightly browner hue to their grey upperparts. Juveniles resemble females but have a rufous tinge to their upperparts and a more olive tone on the breast and flanks. The blackcap's tail is dark grey with an olive edge to each feather, and it has a grey bill and legs with a reddish-brown iris.
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The blackcap favors mature deciduous woodlands with a well-developed understory. It also occupies parks, large gardens, and overgrown hedges, provided there are tall trees for songposts and dense shrubs for nesting.
This warbler breeds across much of Europe, western Asia, and northwestern Africa. It is a partial migrant, with northern populations wintering in northwestern Europe, around the Mediterranean, and in tropical Africa. Some have adapted to wintering in British and Irish gardens.
Blackcaps are territorial during the breeding season, with males establishing and defending their territories through song and display. They are mainly monogamous and may raise one to two broods per season. The species is known for its leap-frog migration pattern, where northern populations migrate further south than those from the Mediterranean.
Monday, 18 October 2021
Saturday, 16 October 2021
Thursday, 14 October 2021
14-10-2021 PATMOS, GREECE - HOODED CROW (Corvus cornix)
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The Hooded Crow, known scientifically as Corvus cornix, is a striking bird found across parts of Europe and the Middle East. It is characterized by its ashy grey body contrasted with a black head, throat, wings, tail, and thigh feathers. The bird's bill, eyes, and feet are also black, creating a distinctive two-tone appearance. Males are generally larger than females, but both share the same coloration.
Adult Hooded Crows are identifiable by their grey and black plumage, with the grey parts appearing streaky due to the dark shafts. The bill and legs are black, and the iris is dark brown. Juveniles can be recognized by their duller plumage and bluish or greyish eyes, with a red mouth that fades as they mature. The wingspan of this bird is approximately 105 cm, and it weighs around 510 grams on average.
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The Hooded Crow is adaptable and can be found in a variety of habitats including farmlands, coastal areas, and urban environments. It is also commonly seen in woodlands and on cliffs where it may forage or nest.
This species has a broad range, inhabiting Northern, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe, as well as parts of the Middle East. In areas where its range overlaps with the Carrion Crow, hybrids can occur, though they are less common due to the Hooded Crow's reclassification as a distinct species.
The Hooded Crow is an omnivorous and opportunistic feeder, known for its intelligence and adaptability. It is a scavenger that will eat a wide variety of foods, and it is also known to hide food for later consumption. The bird's flight is described as slow and heavy, and it often flies straight.
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The vocalizations of the Hooded Crow are similar to those of the Carrion Crow, with a distinctive "kraa" call note that is difficult to distinguish between the two species.
Breeding occurs at different times depending on the region, with nests typically found in tall trees, cliffs, or even buildings. The nests are made of sticks and may include seaweed, bones, and wire. The eggs are blue with brown speckles, and the female incubates them alone while being fed by the male. Young fledge after about 32 to 36 days.
The Hooded Crow can be confused with the Carrion Crow and the Rook, but its grey and black plumage makes it visually distinct. The calls of the Hooded and Carrion Crows are nearly identical, adding to potential confusion.
The diet of the Hooded Crow includes molluscs, crabs, eggs of other birds, small mammals, scraps, smaller birds, and carrion. It is known to drop shellfish from heights to break them open and will hide food for later consumption.
The Hooded Crow is not currently considered threatened and is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. It has a large population and an extensive range, with no significant decline observed in recent years.
Tuesday, 12 October 2021
Sunday, 10 October 2021
10-10-2021 EL PRAT, BARCELONA - MONK PARAKEET (Myiopsitta monachus)
The monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus), also known as the monk parrot or Quaker parrot, is a species of true parrot in the family Psittacidae. It is a small to medium, bright-green parrot with a greyish breast and greenish-yellow abdomen. Its average lifespan is approximately 15 years. It originates from the temperate to subtropical areas of South America. Self-sustaining feral populations occur in many places, mainly in areas of similar climate in North America and Europe.
The nominate subspecies of this parrot is 29 cm (11 in) long on average, with a 48-centimetre (19 in) wingspan, and weighs 100 g (3.5 oz). Females tend to be 10–20% smaller, but can only be reliably sexed by DNA or feather testing. Monk parakeets display very subtle sexual dimorphism in the colouration of their crown and wing coverts, but this is not noticeable to the human eye. It has bright-green upperparts. The forehead and breast are pale grey with darker scalloping and the rest of the underparts are very light-green to yellow. The remiges are dark blue, and the tail is long and tapering. The bill is orange. The call is a loud and throaty chape(-yee) or quak quaki quak-wi quarr, and screeches skveet.
The monk parrot is a gregarious species which often breeds colonially, building a single large nest with separate entrances for each pair. It is not uncommon, however, for pairs or individuals to nest outside of colonies, especially during the breeding season. In the wild, the colonies can become quite large, with pairs occupying separate "apartments" in composite nests that can reach the size of a small automobile.[citation needed] These nests can attract many other tenants, including some which cohabit with the monk parakeets. These tenants include many other birds, such as pigeons, sparrows, American kestrels, and yellow-billed teal, but mammals like red squirrels may also occupy a nest.
Their 1–11 white eggs are incubated continuously by the female, during which time the male will provide her with food. Unusually for a parrot, monk parakeet pairs occasionally have helper individuals, often grown offspring, which assist with feeding the young (see kin selection).[citation needed]
Monk parakeets have an average lifespan in their natural environment of 6 years. However, birds in captivity can reach 10 – 20 years.
10-10-2024 BARCELONA, SPAIN - GARDEN WARBLER (Sylvia borin)
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The Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin) is a modestly attired bird, lacking the flamboyant hues that adorn some of its relatives. This small, migratory passerine is characterized by its brown upperparts and rather nondescript dull white underparts. Both sexes are similarly clad, making them indistinguishable in the field, and the juveniles mirror the adults in their plainness. It is a bird of open woodland, often elusive, flitting through dense undergrowth with a tireless energy.
To identify the Garden Warbler, look for a bird approximately 14 cm in length, with a wing span of 7.6–8.4 cm. It has a whitish eyering and a faint pale supercilium, and its throat and flanks may show a buff wash. The bill is strong, with a grey upper and paler grey lower mandible. The legs are bluish-grey. The eastern subspecies, S. b. woodwardi, is slightly larger and paler than the nominate form.
The Garden Warbler selects open woodlands with a rich understorey for breeding. It shows a preference for deciduous woods with thickets and edges, often near water sources. Mature coniferous forests are typically avoided. In Africa, during the non-breeding season, it occupies a variety of wooded habitats, steering clear of both closed forests and arid regions.
This warbler breeds across most of Europe and into western Siberia, extending further north than any other Sylvia species. It is a strong migrant, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa. The species is known to be vagrant in several regions outside its usual range.
The Garden Warbler is a bird of action, vigorously defending its territory against other Sylvia species. It is mainly monogamous and breeds once a year, with the male displaying and singing to attract a mate. The species is known for its strong migratory behavior, with a remarkable ability to metabolize body fat and even muscle during its long flights.
Saturday, 9 October 2021
8-10-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - LEAF KATYDID (Genus Phaneroptera)
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/48130-Phaneroptera
Friday, 8 October 2021
7-10-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WIDE WINGED DOTTED GRASSHOPPER (Brachycrotaphus tryxalicerus)
The Wide-winged Dotted Grasshopper (Brachycrotaphus tryxalicerus) is a slant-faced grasshopper primarily found across Africa, SE Spain, and Sicily. It inhabits hot, dry, and semi-arid lowlands and relies exclusively on specific savanna-type grasses like Hyparrhenia hirta for both food and shelter.
Key Behavioral and Ecological Facts
Vertical Camouflage: Because its host plants typically grow in dense stands, the grasshopper has adapted to rest vertically along the stems and leaves to evade predators.
Slant-faced Appearance: Classified under the subfamily Gomphocerinae, it features an elongated, slanted head shape.
Habitat Specificity: It is highly dependent on specific grass ecosystems, earning it the alternative name "Savanna Grasshopper".
Mediterranean Presence: While widely distributed in Africa, it is one of the few afrotropical species to also inhabit the southern Mediterranean, with confirmed populations in Sicily and Sardinia.
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